Back to The Beginning
Venue: Cargo Fleet
When: 11/05/2020 – 10/07/2020
Admission: FREE
With the COVID-19 lockdown still in full swing and with great uncertainty about when restrictions will be lifted, The Heritage Gallery remains closed in line with government guidelines.
We would like to thank everyone that has exhibited in the past and all the visitors who have continued to show their support for the gallery and artists exhibiting.
We hope to continue our programme of events once the lockdown has been lifted, hopefully in the not too distant future, but for now, we are going to take a look back at where The Heritage Gallery started and the exhibitions we have had so far since opening back in 2011.
First Exhibition at The Heritage Gallery at Cargo Fleet which launched 8th June 2011.
First 2 Photography Exhibitions at The Heritage Gallery
The first photography exhibition at the gallery showcased the work of two local photographers, Jason Hynes and Michael Guess, whose images capture the region’s industrial landscape and the working man within it.
Curator Jodie said: “Both series of photographs capture Teesside’s strong industrial links, reminiscent of its past and hopeful for its future. This is a fantastic and insightful exhibition and is also incredibly potent considering the rebirth of steel making in the region.”
Jason Hynes’ collection of photographs portrayed an in-depth look at ‘the road’, looking at the mystery and fascination about how a stretch of road can transport you out of the everyday.
“With my interpretation I leave the images in the road to tell their story, I want the viewers to think for themselves and build upon the images that they see, to create a story or narrative with their own imaginations,” said James.
The work explored the relationship between the landscape and the people who live within it. He was particularly interested in the cause and effect between people and their environment; objects, buildings and how landscapes are altered by the presence of people and society.
Michael’s 12 photographs in the exhibition told the story of what was thought to be the end of steel making on Teesside in 2010. Whilst working at the Continuous Casting Plant in Lackenby, where he had been employed for more than 28 years, he captured the last few months of production.
His work not only portrays the history of the steel works but also the beauty of working in heavy industry, something that is not often seen.
The second photography exhibition continued with more images by Michael Guess and Stephen Gill.
Stephen Gill – Corus Coke Works, Redcar, 2008
Taken at night, the images, rich in colour and eerily empty, explore spaces within the normally restricted plant at Redcar which houses the coke ovens and furnaces.
Previously exhibited in ‘Steel Life’ at Dorman Museum, the photographs were part of a larger project which explores aspects of Teesside’s heavy industrial heritage.
Originally from Teesside, Stephen specialises in photographing architectural space and has exhibited across the UK and Europe.
To see more of the exhibitions displayed at the gallery over the years, visit our Facebook page by clicking HERE or go to the exhibitions tab at the top of the website and click on past.